Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-09-17

IDLY against tree, and frowninga little,
when she laughed down at Percy vigues;
but Jack had not spoken dozen words
to her through the afternoon, and Percy
Vigues had been very devoted; so, when
o bunch of roses which she had thrust in
her belt fell on the grass, and Percy,
gathering them for her, kept one. in his
hand, she did not claim it; and when he
brought her lunch basket, she sat cozily
beside him, and shared all the good things
1t contained with him.
''You will allow me to drive you back,
will you not2" asked Percy, as they ate
and chatted. ut is quite a mile, you
know, and l have horse and buggy in
the edge of the grove"
Meg looked about her moment in Al.
lence. She may have been thinking of
other picnics, from which she and Jack
Linton had walked hand in hand, before
the cloud had arisen between them, which
she had not understood.
All, there Jack was. lunching comfort
ably with Bella Ray, the prettiest girl in
the town, and he seemed to be having a
merry time of it.
By this time the sun was wholly OBJ
scured, the white clouds had become
dun, and quiver Of lightning shot over
ha sky.
"You will go with me7" Percy said
again; and she answered him with un-
smiling lips:
eyes; you are kind"
Another Pickering thread of light
across the whiteness of the feeces and
the darkness of the dusky clouds, sud.
den, loud peal of thunder and all save
Meg sprang to their feet.
GA thunder-shower! some one cried.
"We had best start for home at once. :"
Jack Linton walked to where Meg was
sitting in the shadows, with Percy be-
side her; but The stalwart young farmer
took no notice of the elegant New
Yorker, as he addressed Meg.
."Ws are going to have a heavy
shower" he said. 'INill you not come
to the farm with me? tits near. and the
others are going there. My mother will
be delighted to receive you"
His tones were cold, his manner severe,
Meg thought.
Some impulse of contradiction made
her turn from him.
"Mr. Vigues has kindly offered to take
me homein his buggy" she said.
Then Jack looked first at Percy.
"You have Dalton's black horse" he
said. care you aware that the animal
always takes fright at thuuder7"
Mr.. Percy Vigues began to look un-
NO." he replied. "Miss Christian,
would it not be best to"
Hurry Yes," cut in Meg, crisply.
'1'll be ready in a moment! There you
take the lunch basket and we can go at
once.'
But" Jack began, impatiently, 81
tell you it isn't safe to drive that animal
when it thunders, and"
A long, loud reverberation broke his
speech.
Meg looked at Percy.
"Come," she said, gaily, ''let us try to
race the shower. Not drop has fallen
yet"
There was nothing for Vigues to dc
but accompany her through the gather
ing dusk of the now darkened day; and
when they reached the edge Of the grove,
there stood Dalton's black horse, quiver
ing in every limb, with dilated nostrils
and rolling eyes.
"Perhaps, muttered Vigues, uneasily,
shrinking back and turning pale-''per-
haps you had best accept Mr.. Jacks
offer, after all. wouldn't care TO be
the cause of fright to you, you knew,
and this-this creature looks decidedly
vicious
"Nonsense!" Meg laughed. "You will
be able to control him very easily. Pll
get in while you unite him"
Muttering a few unpleasant words, he
moved toward the buggy to assist her.
'Pray hurryl' she cried, when he had
put her in. II am sure it is going to
rain hard soon. Do ountie the horse, Mr..
Vigues."
Percy went to the animals head, an
evident shrinking upon-him, and began
to tumble with the halter.
The creature started back sharply, and
SO did Mr.. Vigues.
Meg's lip curled.
II believe you arc afraid" she said,
with low little laugh.
And he tried to echo the laugh, as he
again advanced, but warily, toward the
restiye horse.
At last he succeeded in unfasfeninO the